The Human Form - an unending challenge

I have taken several workshops from a wonderful French instructor by the name of Jacques Clement of Montreal. Most ateliers work in charcoal, pencil, etc......here in Jacques Clement's workshops we work in a studio situation with oil sticks, oil pastels, and oil paint directly from the model.

  

 

Why do artists continually paint from the live model.  I must tell you that I do not exclusively paint from the model - I create in other areas as well, but none are as challenging as being confronted with the model posing in an atmosphere of drama of light and shadow.  The technical difficulties of working with the oil sticks, are endless, but the possibilities of expression are great.

When confronted with the model,  you are communicating with your model and her gesture. Your drawing will be an experience that is unique to you.  If you are successful, your work with the model will evoke an aesthetic emotion....one that a good painting should bring forth, whether the subject is the human figure, a bouquet of flowers, or a plein air landscape.

Jacques emphasizes organization of pictorial space.  How you place the model on your paper can determine success.  You start with one big shape on your surface....and do not think too much...just do it.

  

    

The above photos are beginning steps for placing the model and first brush strokes of colour. Permission and photos taken by Libby Krul another of the workshop participants. 

An ochre background (light value) with a terre verte shape (dark value) for starters will work, making sure that you have interesting negative shapes and at the same time creating movement and beautiful color.  Here we work with oil sticks, graphite, and solvent, and wipe off with solvent soaked paper towels.  You can then draw a bit with oil pastel.  The rules of contrast come into play ie without a subdued part, the emphasized part will not be as brilliant.  

 Work with light and shadow.  Mystery in a painting is a powerful force.  I don't want to tell the whole story, a general mood will make me happy. I don't want to make anything that resembles a photograph.   For finishing techniques, you can scratch into your work for interesting effects.

We are very fortunate to have Jacques Clement here in Montreal, I invite you to visit Jacques Clement's most interesting website:    http://www.jacquesclement.com   If you e-mail him at info@jacquesclement.com, he will let you know when is the next live model Atelier.  I'm sure I will be there.

Inspired by Negative Space

I was fortunate to attend five separate workshops with Robert Burridge"Notable Wow" artist from California, which were held in Colchester, Vermont, the week of July 29 to August 02, 2008. Accommodations and workshops were sponsored by The Holbein Company and held at the Hampton Inn.

My absolute favorite was:  "Abstract Florals from Colorful Loose Splatters"..this certainly was not your ordinary vase of flowers placed on a table.  Here the technique of negative painting came into play after you splished and splashed with the paint.  What fun!  Still and all, you needed to design your bouquet according to good basic design principles.  Not a boring class to say the least.

Here are some thoughts and ideas from Robert Burridge:

Paint meaningful and believe in yourself.

Try communicating an idea in your painting and take risks.

Kiss of Death is when you worked the painting too hard.

Tip for finishing.  Stop painting at 90%.

A painting is never finished, it stops in interesting places.

I definitely was inspired by Burridge, but, as usual my style seems to emerge, which is a good thing.  I painted over the originals which were done in the workshop, but then painted again with my oils.

Wit and Whimsy

This posting is about my explorations and experimentations in Mixed Media collage. I felt the compulsion to create the layers,
I used the Zen approach "Heart versus Head" to create these mini collage paintings. They are created from the unconscious in a meditative way. 

Starting with a pile of different odds and ends ie ephemera from my collection, I set out to design a series of mini collages. In the collection of oddments are: fabric, paper, and textured paper of different weights, very odd sizes, nothing regular My initial aim was to assemble these small artworks in a pleasing way using all my design knowledge of positive and negative space. I then placed and glued them down and embellished. A word about my selection in this series.....

I somehow drifted to the Zen and Orient for inspiration. There are six small collages in the collection and are named aptly.

Nirvana - is defined as a state of bliss and described as the perfect peace with the world. The state of mind is that of free of anger and craving.

Nepenthe - is described as a magical potion that quells all sorrows with forgetfulness. In literature the effects of Nepenthe are similar to those of opiates.

Karma - Karma means "deed" or "act". If one does good or spiritually valuable acts, one deserves and can expect good luck

Mantra - or "chanting" can be defined as a repetitve sound or group of words. Some purposes of Mantra have included religious ceremonies to accumulate wealth, and avoid danger or eliminate enemies.

Geisha - is described as a female Japanese entertainer, whose skills include performing various Japanese Arts, such as music and dance.

Edo Lovers - centered in Tokyo during the period between 1680 and 1860. They are part of the "Ukiyo-e" genre of Japanese Art - "Ukiyo-e" means pictures of the floating world